A wave of demonstrations is now engulfing the country including its capital, Damascus, despite the government’s announcement on Thursday of changes designed to placate the protestors.

Regime’s brutal response to the demonstrations

Syrian government forces so far had killed 40 protestors in various parts of the country and this week in the southern city of Deraa, a further 60 people have been reported shot dead. Many more have been arrested, beaten and seriously injured by the regime’s forces.

Deraa is now posing a formidable contest for the control of the current regime as its residents are incensed against the regime’s recent brutalities and are vowing to continue the protests. Thousands are now demonstrating in the city.

This evening, more than 1,000 Syrians are are also marching the streets of Damascus pledging to continue up to the time that their demands for the ruling regime to step down are met. Many have been brutally beaten by the government’s security forces and many more are feared will be killed.